What Will Be The Top Issue Of Campaign 08?

[DemocratSinceBirth]

[rucky]

1. Immigration

the hate train is leaving the station, and the media is on-board.

[OregonBlue]

3. Exactly and so far none of the Dem candidates has anything new or any clear

directions regarding the issue. We need to put our heads together and see if we can come up with some sort of rational plan that is a win/win without the discussion degenerating into a shouting match!!

Didereaux has a suggestion this morning, pay transport and relocation money to anyone who wants to leave. I see some real problems with that but it is an interesting new suggestion.

http://www.democraticunderground.com/discuss/duboard.php?az=view_all&address=389x2503986

[rucky]

4. There is only one politically correct answer to immigration...

"We need to enforce the existing laws on illegal immigration and illegal employment."

Any other "solutions" will set people off - one way or another.

[OregonBlue]

10. Go after employers and it will cease.

[pampango]

19. I understand where you are coming from. The ability of the immigration issue

to create strange bedfellows continues to amaze me. I just heard Rush say essentially the same thing - comprehensive immigration "amnesty" (his word) is not needed, just enforcement of existing laws.

I know our candidates don't want to alienate Hispanic voters (the repubs are pretty good at doing that), but they will need to craft a way to address illegal immigration in order to keep the repubs from using it successfully as a wedge issue in 2008.

[CRH]

14. It could very well be used as a wedge issue against the democrats, ...

The democrats win the majority of the Latino vote across the nation, and securing the borders and preventing the influx will become an issue.

In the future secure border theme will become a larger part of the issue, because the Mexican economy and social infrastructure is over 40% dependent on oil revenues. Oil has peaked in Mexico in 2006, it is predicted to be a fast decline in the Cantrell reserves. Near 2012 it is predicted Mexico will not only be missing export revenues, but soon after will also become an importer of oil. The economy in the near future will be even less favorable to the poor and when they begin to migrate for better jobs, they won't be headed south into Central America. There will be a massive influx headed north. Therefore the secure borders will become an issue, and if the democrats support secure borders, it is likely to come at the cost of some of their Latino base. You can bet Rove and others are already planning to exploit this situation.

[FlyingSquirrel]

2. Couldn't vote because my answer wasn't on there:

"Whatever the Right Wing decides it will be."

[slackmaster]

5. "Energy policy" could address 2, 3, 6, 7, climage change, and foreign relations

Where is the champion we need so badly?

:argh:

[ixion]

6. Brittany's pregnant sister

:sarcasm:

[TwilightZone]

7. Isn't immigration fourth or so in national polls?

I seem to recall that someone posted a link to a recent poll about campaign issues, and immigration was fourth or fifth.

[OregonBlue]

12. The Pukes have decided to make it their "signature" issue and they are VERY, VERY

good at getting their message out, sticking to their talking points. How many times do the Dems have to be caught with their heads in the sand. They are going to make this the BIG ONE in the states where we stand to make gains New Mexico, Colorado, Southern California and the mid-west. It's already started and so far the Dems do NOT HAVE a good response.

[harun]

24. I don't think they need to worry about the response that much

Republicans keep allowing illegal immigration because it is good for their real core constituency, the rich. It gives them cheap labor to clean their homes with, to take care of their kids, and to exploit in their business's.

The repug's may talk tough about illegal immigration but they have not nor will they ever do anything about it, they love it. The Dem's should have success in pointing this out once the need arises IMHO.

[liberal N proud]

8. Has the corporate media decided yet?

[CK_John]

9. The bombing of Iran and Cheney hunting for Lakota's in Wyoming on spring break. n/t

[Bucky]

11. the Brazillion genocide

I don't even know how big the number has gotten at this point!

[Kurt_and_Hunter]

13. The Economy will be the ONLY issue

Seriously, given the trends in place, there will be no other issues.

[BootinUp]

15. agreed. n/t

[Capn Sunshine]

16. seconded

all signs point to a painful middle class based recession.

[emilyg]

17. Economy.

[MethuenProgressive]

18. For Democrats, or Republicans?

They will not focus on the same issues, imo.

[rndmprsn]

20. two words...

universal healthcare

[Sultana]

21. Economy

[William769]

22. Depends on who the Repuke candidate is.

[sampsonblk]

23. Iraq. I hope our party leaders are smarter than this

If the GOP nominee brings up Iraq, it will be the dominant issue. If something crazy happens in Iraq, it will be the dominant issue. If Bush wants to make Iraq an issue, it will be the dominant issue. Let's not make the same mistakes we made in 2004.

[harun]

26. I hope the Dem party leaders stick to Iraq, Social Security, Health

Care, and the economy in terms of how they need to make it so the middle class can still afford college, health care, housing, etc.

[sampsonblk]

28. Absolutely-nt

[harun]

25. I don't know which it will be but I bet the MSM picks it

If it is health care, the economy, Iraq or social security the Dem's will be favored. If it is National Security, Racism/Immigration/States rights, taxes or Religion/Choice the Rep's will be favored.

Look for the MSM to do everything it can to make the Rep favoring topics the headlines (Well someone else can look because I don't watch the MSM :-).

[SoxFan]

27. British food

[MethuenProgressive]

29. Depends on the nominee. Could be the War On Drugs.

[OhioChick]

30. The Economy....

Outsourcing/Offshoring, NAFTA, CAFTA, etc., etc., etc.